FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University softball team (1-1) started its season by splitting a pair of contests against Doane College (1-1) and Belhaven University (1-1). After being defeated 6-2 by Doane in the season opener, the Lady Rams took an impressive 3-2 win over 11th ranked Belhaven.
Against Belhaven, Ashlee Hitt staked the Blazers to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the inning,
Kayla Prachyl reached on a leadoff error and scored on a double from
Chelsea Anderson.
In the second, the Lady Rams loaded the bases with a walk
Lauren Gunter and singles from
Lauren Davis and Prachyl. With two outs, Kendal Kizer tied the game with a single
In the fourth,
Amber Tucker dotted the left field line with a one-out triple. Jordan Herring came on in relief for the Blazers, but her first pitch went to the backstop and Tucker scored the go-ahead run.
Belhaven put runners at second and third with one out in the sixth, but
Amber Marlett was up to the task, inducing a pair of shallow fly balls to end the threat.
After the first inning home run, Marlett (1-0) was outstanding. She allowed just three hits while striking out a pair in seven innings. Sarah Harbour (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits in 3.1 innings of work.
Kizer went 3-for-4 in the win, while Anderson added two hits in four trips to the plate.
In the opener against Doane, singles from Sam Valadez and Dani Morrow got the Tigers on the board in the second inning. A Texas Wesleyan error left the door open with two outs in the fifth, and Doane's Niki Fernandez delivered a two-run single that made it 3-0.
The Lady Rams took advantage of a Tiger error that extended the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Tucker blasted a double to left that scored both
Dani West and Kizer.
The Tigers got some breathing room in the top of the seventh when an RBI single from Whitney Hinn and a two-run single from Valadez pushed the score to 6-2.
Kelley Huenink (1-0) picked up the win after allowing two unearned runs on seven hits in seven innings. Ashley Windham (0-1) allowed six runs, four earned, on 12 hits in seven innings of work.
Anderson and Prachyl both went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lady Rams.
The Rams will wrap up action at the Cowtown Classic with three games on Saturday. They take on McPherson College at 10:00 a.m., Tabor College at 12:00 p.m., and the University of Houston-Victoria at 3:00 p.m.
Ramblings
- The Lady Rams are 3-7 in their last ten season opening games.
- Texas Wesleyan is 2-2 all-time against Doane and 1-1 against Belhaven.
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Amber Marlett is 15-6 in her career at Texas Wesleyan.
